Coroner: Man’s death linked to drug, heart disease

Carroll County Coroner David Wilhoite recently released a report of his investigation into the Oct.. 7 death of Tommy W. Jones, 26, of Carrollton.

In the report, Wilhoite said an autopsy performed by the State Medical Examiner’s office attributes Jones death to “oxymorphone found on the toxicologic analysis.”  

Another significant contributing factor was Jones condition of hypertensive cardiovascular disease, the report stated.

Oxymorphone, an opiate, manufactured under the commercial name Opana, is related to oxycontin and oxycodone, and is a schedule II narcotic, according to Robert Haney, pharmacist at Webster Drugs in Park Lanes Shopping Center, Carrollton.

Wilhoite’s report said “the drug may cause impairment and functional compromise of the central nervous, respiratory, and the cardiac systems.”

Wilhoite reported that no history was found that showed Jones had been prescribed the medication. He said the investigation is still pending, as he continues to collect innformation on the case.

Haney said oxymorphone is not a commonly prescribed medication. “It is a derivative of morphine, is relatively new, and is a very strong painkiller that we seldom see prescribed.”